# Processed food that hold their own when compared to the "real" stuff **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [December 27, 2008, 12:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/processed-food-that-hold-their-own-when-compared-to-the-real-stuff/478841 "2008-12-27T12:56:50Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![tumbleddown](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e9bcb4/32.png) [@tumbleddown](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tumbleddown)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2008, 7:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/processed-food-that-hold-their-own-when-compared-to-the-real-stuff/478841/21 "2008-12-27T19:50:59Z")
- Prepackaged egg nog, the fat and cholesterol bomb that it is, tastes better and is safer than the homemade stuff with raw eggs, especially since I drink it without the alcohol. - Trader Joe’s frozen entrees and sides. They’re somewhat less frightening than most frozen meals in terms of salt, fat and monosyllabic scary ingredients, and I’ve yet to find one that tastes bad. I’m a fan. - Premium ice cream, the good brands that are really just cream, milk, eggs and flavorings, are good enough that I don’t feel bad that I don’t have an ice cream maker any more. - Also in the freezer case, a _good_ brand of frozen French fries is going to end up crispier and tastier than what I can do at home, not having a deep fryer or the inclination to fill one of my stockpots with a gallon of oil (which I’d have to do something with afterward) just to fry up a couple of potatoes for myself once in a blue moon. I’d limit this, though, to a national brand like Ore-Ida, though. - I’ll also join the dissent on canned pumpkin. A fresh sugar pumpkin is so much better. Much more work, but worth it for people you really love. - I’ll dissent on cake mixes, especially for chocolate cakes (and brownies) which end up smelling of chemicals as they bake. I thought I was the only one who got that top note of something acidic in the air from that, but then I read a character in a novel mention it and I felt vindicated. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Mahna\_Mahna](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e47c2d/32.png) [@Mahna\_Mahna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahna_Mahna)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2008, 8:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/processed-food-that-hold-their-own-when-compared-to-the-real-stuff/478841/22 "2008-12-27T20:14:35Z")
Pancakes made from a good-quality mix taste just as good as homemade, IMO, especially if you add a dash of cinnamon to the batter. Boxed chicken stock is nearly as good as homemade, though I still make my own when I have time and leftover chicken carcasses. Canned, not so much, but I do sometimes use it for cooking. I despise bouillon cubes. I also use premade puff pastry and danish dough without a speck of remorse because I don’t think the homemade kind is superior enough to justify spending half a day making it. However, pie pastry I do make by hand, because the real deal is significantly better and doesn’t require a huge amount of time to make. ---
**Author:** ![vison](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/e47774/32.png) [@vison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vison)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2008, 9:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/processed-food-that-hold-their-own-when-compared-to-the-real-stuff/478841/23 "2008-12-27T21:02:01Z")
> [@Muffin](#): > > That’s 'cause I’m a dolt – I should have said “form” rather than “break”. My apologies for putting it backwards. Thanks for the well stated correction. You are so welcome! Give me a chance to pontificate about food and I’ll seize it like a dawg on a bone.😃 I agree on the puff and Danish pastry, too. Horrible amount of time to make from scratch and the boughten stuff is perfectly good. Pyrogies are easier to make if you use your pasta machine. I make triangular pyrogies, therefore, just cutting sheets of dough across rather than into little circles. A good thing to do on a day like this when I’m snowed in and going bonkers with cabin fever. ☹ No wonder my Norse ancestors got hammered in October and stayed that way until spring. Their lives would have been immeasurably nicer if they’d had a good food processor and a modern stove with a reliable oven, wouldn’t they? Or, you can use wonton wrappers from the store. They work just fine for both pyrogies and raviolis. ---
**Author:** ![flickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/7bcc69/32.png) [@flickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/flickster)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2008, 12:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/processed-food-that-hold-their-own-when-compared-to-the-real-stuff/478841/24 "2008-12-28T00:44:46Z")
My $0.02 on the some of the previous items: pumpkin - I’ve made pumpkin pies using pumpkins that were very good. However, I don’t feel the taste difference in the result I get using canned pumpkin is worth the trouble. Note: I am referring to canned pumpkin, not to be confused with pre-made pumpkin pie filling. cake mixes - While the finished product is ok, I’ve never thought they were superior, or even equal to, made from scratch cakes. Seems like the texture is too light for my taste. Pie Crust: Won’t even consider using a pre-made. 3 to 1 ratio flour to Crisco, can’t go wrong. New Items of Discussion: Biscuits: I have spent many years making biscuits from scratch but have all but stopped over the past 3 years. I have started using Pillsbury frozen. I MIGHT be able to turn out a better batch but the flexibility the frozen product gives me overrides that. If I only need 3 or 4, that’s all I bake - instead of an entire pan of biscuits. They are far superior to canned pre-mades, which I will turn my nose up at (even the Grands) Canned Soups - no thanks ---
**Author:** ![ZenBeam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/3ab097/32.png) [@ZenBeam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZenBeam)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2008, 3:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/processed-food-that-hold-their-own-when-compared-to-the-real-stuff/478841/25 "2008-12-28T03:44:40Z")
> [@Athena](#): > > How does she prepare it? She roasts the whole pumpkin (sugar pumpkin, AKA pie pumpkin, not jack-o-lantern pumpkin) in the oven until it’s soft, removes the skin and seeds, and purees the meat in a blender. She grows the pumpkins in her garden now, although she has used store-bought cooking pumpkins in the past. Last year, she didn’t have time and used canned pumpkin, and was disappointed in the results. It had a much coarser texture. ---
**Author:** ![Hunter\_Hawk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/50afbb/32.png) [@Hunter\_Hawk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hunter_Hawk)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2008, 3:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/processed-food-that-hold-their-own-when-compared-to-the-real-stuff/478841/26 "2008-12-28T03:56:36Z")
FWIW, my mom experimented with pumpkin pie recipes and eventually decided that acorn squash gave better results than pumpkin did. You need to cut the squash in half and roast it till soft; this will also drive off some of the excess moisture. I suspect that kabocha would also give good results, but haven’t gotten around to trying it yet. Back on topic: Good commercial jam/jelly is just as good as homemade. I once had this applesauce that was imported from Spain (I don’t recall the brand, but it wasn’t Matiz). I don’t know how they did it, but I swear it was the Platonic ideal of applesauce, vastly better than anything I’ve ever had before or since, commercial or homemade. The ingredient list was “Golden Delicious apples”, so it must have been something to do with the processing. I don’t think it’s imported any more, but I wish to God it were. ---
**Author:** ![Alan\_Smithee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/2acd7d/32.png) [@Alan\_Smithee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alan_Smithee)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2008, 7:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/processed-food-that-hold-their-own-when-compared-to-the-real-stuff/478841/27 "2008-12-28T07:14:56Z")
How is fresh pumpkin pie supposed to be so much work? I’m the least kitchen-y person you’ll meet: virtually my entire diet is packaged convenience foods and fast food. I can follow a recipe when I’m motivated, though, and last year I decided to make a fresh pumpkin pie for a pot luck. I used frozen crust, of course, but I made the filling fresh by combining a couple of recipes from the net. I even used a leftover jack-o-lantern pumpkin, although it was a small enough one that it probably could have been a sugar pumpkin. Not only did it taste great, I was amazed that it was hardly any more work than opening a can! Bake the pumpkin, scoop out the meat, toss it in a blender to puree. Poof, fresh pumpkin just like from a can, only slightly better (IMO). Ok, I suppose I had to squeeze out some of the liquid, but really, if I tell you something’s easy in the kitchen, it’s motherfarkin’ easy. ---
**Author:** ![ZipperJJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zipperjj/32/211_2.png) [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2008, 7:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/processed-food-that-hold-their-own-when-compared-to-the-real-stuff/478841/28 "2008-12-28T07:54:53Z")
> [@Hunter\_Hawk](#): > > Good commercial jam/jelly is just as good as homemade. I dunno, man. My grandma gave us some raspberry and grape jams this fall and they were just…wow. But, I’ll assume you mean better than Smuckers. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![leechbabe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7cd45c/32.png) [@leechbabe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/leechbabe)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2008, 8:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/processed-food-that-hold-their-own-when-compared-to-the-real-stuff/478841/29 "2008-12-28T08:52:56Z")
Pumpkin Pie made with real pumpkins is easy - [recipe here](http://aussiefarmersdirectchallenge.wordpress.com/2008/09/20/pumpkin-pie-using-real-pumpkin-and-dairy-free/). Even better you can use the leftovers to make [pumpkin pie ice-cream aka a food orgasm.](http://aussiefarmersdirectchallenge.wordpress.com/2008/09/13/i-just-made-a-food-orgasm-roasted-pumpkin-icecream-v2/) I’ve only attempted to make potato chips (I think you call them crisps in the USA) at home once and the processed ones from the shops are way better. ---
**Author:** ![Leaper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/4bbf92/32.png) [@Leaper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaper)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2008, 9:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/processed-food-that-hold-their-own-when-compared-to-the-real-stuff/478841/30 "2008-12-28T09:12:48Z")
> [@leechbabe](#): > > I’ve only attempted to make potato chips (I think you call them crisps in the USA) Got that backwards. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Athena](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/35a633/32.png) [@Athena](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Athena)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2008, 3:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/processed-food-that-hold-their-own-when-compared-to-the-real-stuff/478841/31 "2008-12-28T15:46:45Z")
> [@ZenBeam](#): > > She roasts the whole pumpkin (sugar pumpkin, AKA pie pumpkin, not jack-o-lantern pumpkin) in the oven until it’s soft, removes the skin and seeds, and purees the meat in a blender. > > She grows the pumpkins in her garden now, although she has used store-bought cooking pumpkins in the past. Last year, she didn’t have time and used canned pumpkin, and was disappointed in the results. It had a much coarser texture. Yup, that’s exactly what I used to do. Same pumpkins, same method. I can’t tell a difference in taste or texture from canned. > [@Mahna\_Mahna](#): > > Pancakes made from a good-quality mix taste just as good as homemade, IMO, especially if you add a dash of cinnamon to the batter. > > Boxed chicken stock is nearly as good as homemade, though I still make my own when I have time and leftover chicken carcasses. Canned, not so much, but I do sometimes use it for cooking. I despise bouillon cubes. Gotta dissent on these two. I’ve never met a mix that could make pancakes as good as homemade, at least not my homemade. Mr. Athena despised pancakes until I started making them. Now it’s one of his favorite breakfasts. And boxed chicken stock is good in a pinch, much better than canned, but I don’t think it’s anywhere near as good as homemade. The one fatal flaw in all pre-purchased stocks is that they’re not really stock. They’re more like flavored water. Stock is gelatinous; if you reduce it, it gets thick. I dunno why they can’t make canned stock that has gelatin from the bones in it, but nobody does. ---
**Author:** ![ZenBeam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/3ab097/32.png) [@ZenBeam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZenBeam)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2008, 4:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/processed-food-that-hold-their-own-when-compared-to-the-real-stuff/478841/32 "2008-12-28T16:30:23Z")
> [@Athena](#): > > Yup, that’s exactly what I used to do. Same pumpkins, same method. I can’t tell a difference in taste or texture from canned. What brand of canned pumpkin? Maybe you found a particularly good one. ---
**Author:** ![Muffin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muffin/32/4341_2.png) [@Muffin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Muffin)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2008, 4:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/processed-food-that-hold-their-own-when-compared-to-the-real-stuff/478841/33 "2008-12-28T16:49:06Z")
OK, I’ll come out and say it: Kraft Dinner and Beefaroni. Now I won’t go so far as to say that those edible products are good. I won’t even go so far as to say that they are food. But I will say that it is not possible (nor ncessarily desirable) to recreate them as “real stuff”. ---
**Author:** ![Athena](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/35a633/32.png) [@Athena](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Athena)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2008, 4:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/processed-food-that-hold-their-own-when-compared-to-the-real-stuff/478841/34 "2008-12-28T16:53:03Z")
> [@ZenBeam](#): > > What brand of canned pumpkin? Maybe you found a particularly good one. Plain ol’ Libby’s I think. Just what all the grocery stores stock. ---
**Author:** ![Hunter\_Hawk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/50afbb/32.png) [@Hunter\_Hawk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hunter_Hawk)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2008, 4:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/processed-food-that-hold-their-own-when-compared-to-the-real-stuff/478841/35 "2008-12-28T16:58:20Z")
> [@ZipperJJ](#): > > But, I’ll assume you mean better than Smuckers. 😃 Yeah, you’ll note the use of the qualifier in the phrase “_Good_ commercial jam/jelly” Really, the same qualifier applies to any of the other products mentioned in this thread–it’s certainly possible to buy prepackaged crap that _isn’t_ as good as the real thing. ---
**Author:** ![Sigmagirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c89c15/32.png) [@Sigmagirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sigmagirl)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2008, 6:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/processed-food-that-hold-their-own-when-compared-to-the-real-stuff/478841/36 "2008-12-28T18:23:18Z")
> [@rolandgunslinger](#): > > Clark Griswold- “Real homemade ketchup Eddie?” > Eddie- “Nuttin but the best.” Ha. But you know the line is _“Real tomato ketchup, Eddie?”_ ---
**Author:** ![leechbabe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7cd45c/32.png) [@leechbabe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/leechbabe)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2008, 9:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/processed-food-that-hold-their-own-when-compared-to-the-real-stuff/478841/37 "2008-12-28T21:59:00Z")
> [@Leaper](#): > > Got that backwards. 😃 Man! and I thought was being smart actually remembering that we call them different names. ---
**Author:** ![ComeToTheDarkSideWeHaveCookies](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e9bcb4/32.png) [@ComeToTheDarkSideWeHaveCookies](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ComeToTheDarkSideWeHaveCookies)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2008, 10:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/processed-food-that-hold-their-own-when-compared-to-the-real-stuff/478841/38 "2008-12-28T22:33:58Z")
Pillsbury All-ready pie crusts are the shiznit! ---
**Author:** ![Drain\_Bead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e47774/32.png) [@Drain\_Bead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Drain_Bead)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2008, 2:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/processed-food-that-hold-their-own-when-compared-to-the-real-stuff/478841/39 "2008-12-29T14:00:51Z")
Cook’s Illustrated, I believe, suggested using canned pumpkin but sauteeing it with the spices first to intensify the flavors. ---
**Author:** ![Sublata](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/7cd45c/32.png) [@Sublata](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sublata)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2008, 2:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/processed-food-that-hold-their-own-when-compared-to-the-real-stuff/478841/40 "2008-12-29T14:13:37Z")
Back in the day, I used to make dill pickles, and Claussen Hearty Garlic Dill Pickles (the refrigerated kind) are easily as good as anything I ever made. Also, Aunt Millie’s brand “Hearth” line of 100% Whole Wheat Bread has destroyed my motivation to go to all the trouble of making my own bread. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/processed-food-that-hold-their-own-when-compared-to-the-real-stuff/478841.md?page=1)